Pipe handling means



June 21, 1966 w. M. MERRITT, JR 3,257,099

PIPE HANDLING MEANS Original vFiled May 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N l H l m Z Z /2 fllv 5 li/mm HMW 42 H H L 25 M AL. I. 27 25 32 W//// 0/77 M Mew/v f2,

, INVENTOR.

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June 21, 1966 PIPE HANDLING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 23, 1963 FROM PUMP -Q- 70 TANK 57 //v UPPER 6/. AMP AUWf/Q CAAMP J01 [NU/.0

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INVENTOR.

ATTORA/EVJ v tinned drilling operations.

I other minerals.

United States Patent 3,257,099 PIPE HANDLING MEANS William M. Merritt, Jr., Houston, Tex. Continuation of application Ser. No. 282,614, May 23, 1963. This application Apr. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 448,555 3 Claims. (Cl. 254-105) diameter holes or mine shafts with casing, tubing, or

some other hollow member. An unlined hole is subject to the possibility of collapse and often is partially filled near the bottom with an accumulation of dirt, stone, or Deep, open holes often pass through water-bearing formations which tend to drain into the open hole, filling it with water and interfering with con- The hole is commonly protected by placing a lining or casing in the hole which pre- .vents the entry of loose minerals and maintains an open termed draw works.

and-useable hole for the full extent of the casing. The

casing may be sealed to prevent entry of water also.

Heretofore, casing has been inserted into oil and gas wells by lowering a string of made up pipe joints into the well bore by means well known in the art, generally The draw works are normally supported at the derrick location and include means to raise or lower pipe joints up and down as desired. This method of handling casing is acceptable for holes cased with threaded pipe. The threaded interconnection between adjacent joints is self aligning and assures that the entire string of made up pipe joints is straight.

In large diameter holes such as three feet and larger, the casing used is not threadedly engaged with adjacent sections but is welded to form a casing string. Threaded 1' connections require rotationof one joint whereas welded connections are performed on joints held in a fixed positility unknown to the means used heretofore.

tion relative to one another to control alignment of adjacent casing sections. Elimination of rotative equipment is desirable, for drilling rigs are often portable and elimination of equipments increases rig movability.

: v This invention may be used to handle casing in'a large works and derrick for handling larger casing,'this is undesirable because iti-ncreases the weight of the drilling rig and penalizes portability.

An objectof this invention is to provide a new and improved tool for handling or otherwise manipulating casing, tubing or the like which rests on the ground near ,a hole as opposed to being suspended from the drilling rig.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pipe handling-tool which cannot drop or otherwise lose control of a string of pipe.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pipe handling tool which holds a string of .pipe rigidly to allow additional sections to be welded thereto.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description. 1

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and where- FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the pipe handling tool;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line 1-1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic system associated with the casing clamping means of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the electrical wiring system used to actuate the hydraulically operated equipment of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is sectional view of the wall of the large diameter casing used in large bore wells.

In FIG. 1, the number'10 designates the pipe handling tool of this invention as comprised of a pair of casing clamps 11 and 12, with a set of hydraulic jacks 14 extending therebetween. A section of pipe 15 is illustrated as being within the upper clamp 11 which is free to be operated by hydraulic means. Each of the clamps 11 and12 is comprised of a frame 16, a set of hydraulic rams 18, and ram driven load shoes 19, as shown in FIG. 2. Pressure fluid applied to the rams 18 operates to move the attached shoes 19 radially of the pipe 15 to engage its outer periphery. The hydraulic jacks 14 lift the upper clamp 11 until it engages a lift bar 20 attached to the wall of the pipe 15. The contact of the lift bar 20 with the shoes 19 maintains control over the pipe 15, enabling the pipe to be raised and lowered as needed.

Considering the invention more in detail, FIG. 1 discloses a base plate adapted to rest on the ground or other smooth surface in supporting the invention 10. At tached perpendicularly thereto is a mounting cylinder 26 which supports the casing clamp 12 thereabove. A- plurality of gussets 27 are horizontally welded or otherwise attached to the plate 25 and abut on their vertical sides against the cylinder 26 to strengthen the pipe handling tool 10.

The hydraulic jacks 14 are rested on the plate 25 in an upright position and held in a fixed relationship to the lower clamp 12. FIG. 2 illustrates in sectional view the cylinder 28 placed in a receiving socket 28a for support and positioning. The sockets 280 are placed adjacent the radially positioned ribs 29 which extend from the inner wall 30 to the outer wall 31 of the clamp 12. Some play is permitted in maintaining the cylinders 28 vertical to the plate 25, for the vertical deviation will permit lateral movement of the clamps 11 relative to the clamp 12 to engage a misaligned pipe 15. Adjacent pairs of the ribs 29 serve as guides for the shoes 19 to align the shoes 19 during actuation by the rams 18. The rams 18 are anchored to the outer wall 31 by a pair of braces 32 bracketed adjacent the ram 18 and secured to said wall. Each ram 18 is comprised of a cylinder 33, a piston 34 connected to the shoe 19, an inlet port 35 for admitting pressure fluid to drive the piston 34 radially inwardly of the pipe 15 and a second port 36-for admitting pressure fluid to drive the piston 34 in the reverse direction. Two

. voltage will be applied to a control switch 55.

ring shaped manifolds 37 and 38 encircle the clamp 12 to supply pressure fluid to the rams 18 for operation of said rams. The manifold 37 has attached thereto a series of feed lines 39 which are connected to the ports 35 to apply pressure fluid to the pistons 34 causing movement thereof. The manifold 38 likewise is tapped with a series of feed lines 40 supplying pressure fluid to the ports 36 as a means of actuating the pistons 34 in the opposite direction.

The hydraulic jacks 14 are operated by admission of pressure fluid to the lower end to lift the pistons 41, said fluid flowing through a manifold 42 mounted somewhat above the base plate 25. Since the jacks 14 have the Weight of the clamp 11 urging the pistons 41 into a retracted position, single acting jacks are the preferred form.

The position of the shoes is indicated by a cam 45 protruding from a camshaft 46 attached to each of the shoes 19. The cams 45 are each positioned in proximity to a switch 48 so that motion of the shoe 19 trips the switch 48 to indicate that the ram 18 has operated to engage the pipe centrally located of the clamp. Details relating to the switch 48 will be disclosed hereinafter.

The hydraulic system supplynig pressure fluid to the clamps 11 and 12 is illustrated in FIG. 3 while FIG. 4 is the electrical schematic of the safety locking means used to prevent the invention from dropping a string of easing. In FIG. 3, the main supply line 50 supplies pressure fluid to identical valves 51 for operation of the hydraulic rams 18. The valves 51 are both solenoid controlled, pilot operated, four way directional valves with spring centering means returning the spool of the valve to a central position. In the central position, the spool blocks flow from the main supply line 50 and connects the pressure lines 60 and 63 to the drain line 52, a means of returning fluid to a central tank. The spools of the valves 51 are controlled electrically by applying voltages to the solenoids associated with the valves 51 using the means represented schematically in FIG. 4.

A switch 53 electrifies the system and applies voltage to the switches 48 arranged about the clamps 11 and 12. Since the shoes 19 of either clamp 11 or 12 should not be disengaged from the exterior of the pipe 15 without engaging the shoes 19 of the remaining clamp, means providing such protection are achieved in the method of actuating the valves 51. If, for instance, the lower clamp 12 has engaged the periphery of the pipe 15 with all of its shoes 19, the switches 48 mounted on the lower clamp 12 will be placed in the on position by the earns 45 and If the control switch 55 is operated from the in position to the out position, current flows through the switches 48 to a solenoid 56 which directs pressure fluid to the upper clamp 11 to disengage said clamp from the pipe 15. In like manner, the switches 48 of the upper clamp 11 must be be operated to allow the lower clamp 12 to release the pipe 15. While it may be observed that the control switches 55 may both be placed to actuate the in solenoids 57 and both clamps 11 and 12 will engage the pipe 15, it is impossible to disengage both clamps from the pipe 15. If both control switches 55 are actuated to the out position, voltage will be applied to only one out solenoid 56, placing one of the clamps in a disengaged position. That clamp, via the switches 48, prevents the flow of current to the remaining out solenoid 56 and the spool of the valve 51 will remain in its central position.

Electrification of the in solenoid 56' shifts the spool of the valve 51 to connect the main supply line 50 to the manifold 37 through a pressure line 60, a check valve 61, and a feed line 62. The same spool'movement communicates the manifold 38 with the drain line 52 via a pressure line 63 and the valve 51 to drain fluid from the manifold 38. Since the rams 18 are double acting, introduction of pressure fluid through either of the ports 35 or 36 will force fluid from the other port as the piston 34 is moved by the incoming fluid. In a short period of time, sufhcient hydraulic fluid will have filled the rams 18 and extended to pistons 34 through maximum movement to contact the pipe 15 with the shoes 19. Full extension of the pistons 34 of either clamp 11 or 12 actuates the switches 48 precedent to empowering the switch 55 connected thereto for withdrawing the shoes 19 of the remaining clamp.

Actuation of the switch 55 to the out position energizes the solenoid 57 which moves the spool of valve 51 to a position resulting in a reversed fluid flow in the pressure lines 60 and 63. Pressure fluid from the pump flows through the line 63, the manifold 38, the feed lines 48, and the ports 36 to move the pistons 34 radially outwardly of the pipe 15. Such movement is permitted only if the fluid in the in hydraulic system flows into the drain line 52 against the functioning elements of the check valve 61. The check valve 61 is of the pilot pressure operated type valve and may be defeated by application of pressure fluid through a pilot line 64 to a pressure sensitive attachment 65. Since the pilot line 64 receives pressure fluid simultaneously with the pressure line 63, the check valve 61 is defeated to allow back flow of fluid as the condition of the rams 18 is reversed.

While the mode of operation of the invention may be apparent from the disclosure contained herein, a cycle of operation will be explained to further amplify and illus trate. The invention is placed over the opening of a well and a section of pipe 15 is lowered by some overhead means through the upper clamp 11. The switches 53 and 55 are operated to apply electrical power to the solenoid 56 which results in the shoes 19 of the clamp 11 engaging the exterior of the pipe 15 and signaled to the operator by a light bulb 66. The pipe 15 is then freed of the overhead lift means and allowed to slide downwardly of the shoes 19 until a lift bar 20 or drill collar or other shoulder comes to rest on the shoes. The pressure holding the jacks 14 in an extended position is released and the pipe 15 is lowered about eight feet in the preferred embodiment. Both of switches 55 are actuated which places the lower clamp 12 in an operable condition and releases the hold of the upper clamp. The pipe 15 then engages the shoes 19 of the lower clamp 12 with the lift bar 20 while the jacks 14 are refilled .with pressure fluid to re-elevate the clamp 11. The clamp 11 is raised the preferred eight feet to be positioned immediately below another lift bar 20. The above routine is repeated to lower the pipe 15 another eight feet. From the foregoing it may be seen that the derrick is freed of the weight of thousands of feet of easing which is rested on the invention. Further, the invention is capable of holding the pipe 15 very still to allow additional pipe sections to be welded thereto with accuracy. Also, the invention cannot be accidently manipulated so as to drop the string of pipe. trical power or of hydraulic pressure, do not loosen the grip of the clamp 11 or 12.

Alterations may be associated with the preferred embodiment without departing from the invention herein disclosed. As an example, the switches 48 are duplicated to provide indications that the rams 18 are retracted. The drawings illustrate eight rams 18 circumferentially arranged about a circular clamp; some mine shafts may be lined with rectangular casing, in which event, the clamps should be altered to conform to the differently shaped casing. Also, the lower clamp 12 may rest on the ground or on a drilling platform. The load shoes 19 may be replaced with slips which frictionally engage the exterior of the pipe to secure it relative the actuated clamp.

Briefly, this invention relates to a new and improved tool for lowering easing into a well or other longitudinally extending members such as concrete pilings and the like,

Any accidents, such as loss of electhe invention having safety means therewith which prevents dropping the casing or other longitudinally extending member.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for holding or otherwise handling pipe casing or other cylindrical members having circumferentially extending lift bars equally spaced along its length, comprising:

(a) a base having a central opening of greater diameter than the cylindrical member for allowing the member to extend therethrough and toward an opening therebelow;

(b) lower lift bar engaging means including 1) an annular clamp supported on said base, said clamp including:

(a) a plurality of radially inwardly directed double-acting hydraulic jacks,

(b) said jacks being spaced circumferentially about said clamp,

. (c) said clamp being fixed on said base,

((1) said jacks being equipped with arcuately extending bearing members for contacting the upper or lower surfaces of the lift bars on extension of said double-acting jacks,

(e) a pair of ring shaped manifolds encircling said clamp with said jacks positioned therebetween, and

(f) hydraulic supply lines for supplying pressure fluid to and for discharging pressure fluid from each of said ring shaped manifolds and said jacks,

(c) an upper lift bar engaging means including:

(1) an annular clamp, said clamp including:

(a) an annular clamp supported on said base, said clamp including:

(b) a plurality of radially inwardly directed double-acting hydraulic jacks,

(c) said jacks being equipped with arcuately extending bearing members for contacting the upper or lower surfaces of the lift bars on extension of said double-acting jacks,

(d) a pair of ring shaped manifolds encircling said clamp with said jacks positioned therebetween, and

(e) hydraulic supply lines for supplying pressure fluid to and for discharging pressure fluid from each of said ring shaped manifolds and said jacks,

(d) hydraulic jacks connected to said upper engaging means and having a fixed relationship relative to said lower engaging means;

(e) means for supplying pressure fluid to said hydraulic jacks, and a (f) said hydraulic jacks reciprocating said upper engaging means upwardly and downwardly parallel to the axis of the cylindrical member and with a stroke sufficiently long to enable said upper engaging means to engage the lift bars on the cylindrical member.

2. A tool for holding, lowering, or otherwise placing tubing, casing, or cylindrical members in a bore hole or opening therebelow where the cylindrical member has along its length a plurality of circumferentially extending, equally spaced lift bars, comprising:

(a) a base having a central opening of greater diameter than the cylindrical member for allowing the member to extend therethrough as it is lowered or otherwise handled relative to a bore hole;

(b) an annular clamp supported on said base;

(c) a first plurality of radially inwardly directed double-acting hydraulic jacks supported in said clamp;

(d) arcuately extending first bearing members on said jacks for contacting the upper or lower surfaces of the lift bars on radially inwardly extension of said first plurality of hydraulic jacks;

(c) said first plurality of hydraulic jacks being mounted in a plane extending transversely relative to the axis of the cylindrical member and spaced circumferentially about its central opening to engage and support the cylindrical member by contact of said first hearing members with the lift bar;

(f) a pair of ring shaped manifolds encircling said clamp with said jacks positioned therebetween; (g) hydraulic supply lines for supplying pressure fluid to and for discharging pressure fluid from each of said ring shaped manifolds and said jacks;

(h) vertically extending lift jacks having a lower end fixed to said base and an upper end which is extendable upwardly and downwardly with a stroke sufficient to span the longitudinal spacing of the lift bars on the cylindrical member;

(i) a second plurality of double-acting hydraulic jacks;

(j) an annular clamp carried on the upper end of said lift jacks for mounting said second plurality of double-acting jacks in a plane for extension radially inwardly about the cylindrical member;

(k) arcuately extending second bearing members on said second jacks for contacting the upper or lower surfaces of the lift bars to engage and support said cylindrical member by contact with its lift bar;

(1) a pair of ring shaped manifolds encircling said clamp with said jacks positioned therebetween; (m) hydraulic supply lines for supplying pressure fluid to and for discharging pressure fluid from each of said ring shaped manifolds and said jacks;

(n) hydraulic supply means for controllably delivering pressurized hydraulic fluid to said vertically extending jacks for operating same; and

(o) interlock means connected to said first and second hydraulic jacks for maintaining at least one of said first and second plurality of double-acting jacks in extended position with said bearing members carried thereon positioned adjacent the cylindrical member to engage a lift bar and support the cylindrical member whereby the cylindrical member is secured from dropping into the bore hole at all times by the engaging position of said bearing members relative to the lift bars.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said interlock includes:

(a) first means for ascertaining the position of said first plurality of jacks and providing an indication when said jacks are extended to engage and support the cylindrical member on said first bearing means;

(b) second means for ascertaining the position of said second plurality of jacks and providing an indication when said jacks are extended to engage and support the cylindrical member on said second bearing means; and

(c) means operable on the indications of said first and second means for limiting disengagement of each of said first and second bearing members in response to operation of said first and second plurality of doubleacting jacks only on occurrence of the indication from said first or second means associated with the other of said first or second plurality of double-acting jacks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,932,486 4/ 1960 Suderow 25493 2,947,148 8/1960 Young 254ll0 X 2,954,676 10/1960 Guy et al 254-107 X 3,109,289 11/1963 Roussel 254- X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

7 OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Examiner. 

1. A TOOL FOR HOLDING OR OTHERWISE HANDLING PIPE CASING OR OTHER CYLINDRICAL MEMBERS HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING LIFT BARS EQUALLY SPACED ALONG ITS LENGTH, COMPRISING: (A) A BASE HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER FOR ALLOWING THE MEMBER TO EXTEND THERETHROUGH AND TOWARD AN OPENING THEREBELOW; (B) LOWER LIFT BAR ENGAGING MEANS INCLUDING (1) AN ANNULAR CLAMP SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE, SAID CLAMP INCLUDING: (A) A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY INWARDLY DIRECTED DOUBLE-ACTING HYDRAULIC JACKS, (B) SAID JACKS BEING SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID CLAMP, (C) SAID CLAMP BEING FIXED ON SAID BASE, (D) SAID JACKS BEING EQUIPPED WITH ARCUATELY EXTENDING BEARING MEMBERS FOR CONTACTING THE UPPER OR LOWER SURFACES OF THE LIFT BARS ON EXTENSION OF SAID DOUBLE-ACTING JACKS, (E) A PAIR OF RING SHAPED MANIFOLDS ENCIRCLING SAID CLAMP WITH SAID JACKS POSITIONED THEREBETWEEN, AND (F) HYDRAULIC SUPPLY LINES FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURE FLUID TO AND FROM DISCHARGING PRESSURE FLUID FROM EACH OF SAID RING SHAPED MANIFOLDS AND SAID JACKS, (C) AN UPPER LIFT BAR ENGAGING MEANS INCLUDING: (1) AN ANNULAR CLAMP, SAID CLAMP INCLUDING: (A) AN ANNULAR CLAMP SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE, SAID CLAMP INCLUDING: (B) A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY INWARDLY DIRECTED DOUBLE-ACTING HYDRAULIC JACKS, (C) SAID JACKS BEING EQIPPED WITH ARCUATELY EXTENDING BEARING MEMBERS FOR CONTACTING THE UPPER OR LOWER SURFACES OF THE LIFT BARS ON EXTENSION OF SAID DOUBLE-ACTING JACKS, (D) A PAIR OF RING SHAPED MANIFOLDS ENCIRCLING SAID CLAMP WITH SAID JACKS POSITIONED THEREBETWEEN, AND (E) HYDRAULIC SUPPLY LINES FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURE FLUID TO AND FOR DISCHARGING PRESSURE FLUID FROM EACH OF SAID RING SHAPED MANIFOLDS AND SAID JACKS, (D) HYDRAULIC JACKS CONNECTED TO SAID UPPER ENGAGING MEANS AND HAVING A FIXED RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO SAID LOWER ENGAGING MEANS; (E) MEANS FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURE FLUID TO SAID HYDRAULIC JACKS, AND (F) SAID HYDRAULIC JACKS RECIPROCATING SAID UPPER ENGAGING MEANS UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND WITH A STROKE SUFFICIENTLY LONG TO ENABLE SAID UPPER ENGAGING MEANS TO ENGAGE THE LIFT BARS ON THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER. 